LANSING, March 19, 1999 – Michigan’s warmer temperatures may be casting a spring fever spell across the state, but Michigan Lottery players are burning up with a case of jackpot fever!
This weekend could bring millions of dollars in prizes to lucky Michigan Lottery players – if they find the winning number combination. No one matched all six numbers in last night’s Michigan Lotto drawing, driving Saturday’s (March 20) jackpot to an estimated $11 million!
So, you say $11 million isn’t enough for you? Well, then maybe you should try your luck at The Big Game! Tonight’s (March 19) jackpot sits at an estimated $51 million!
"The excitement is growing over these big jackpots," said Michigan Lottery Commissioner Don Gilmer. "When jackpots reach these levels it’s always fun to imagine what you would do with that much money!"
The last time the Lotto jackpot was at this level was on February 3, 1999, and The Big Game jackpot was most recently at the $50 million level on January 29 of this year.
The largest total Michigan Lotto jackpot in Lottery history was a $45.8 million prize split by three winners in the February 25, 1995 drawing. If one player in Michigan were to have the only winning ticket to match all six Big Game numbers in tonight’s drawing, it would be the largest single jackpot ever won in Michigan Lottery history! The largest to date is the $45.6 million jackpot from the January 24, 1997 drawing; that sole winning ticket was turned in by the 17-member "Friends Forever" lottery club of Jackson.
In the Michigan Lotto game, players can win $100 for matching four of the six numbers drawn, $2,500 for matching five numbers and the jackpot for matching all six numbers. The Big Game offers nine ways to win cash prizes, ranging from $1 to the jackpot, including a second-tier prize of $150,000 for matching the first five numbers. To date, six Big Game jackpots have been won by Michigan Lottery players. Wagers cost $1 each for both Lotto and The Big Game and tickets may be purchased at more than 6,400 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.
Largest Jackpots (TOTAL AMOUNT) Awarded by the Michigan Lottery
DRAW DATE |
JACKPOT |
# OF WINNERS |
GAME |
| Feb. 25, 1995 | $45,851,400 | 3 | Michigan Lotto |
| Jan. 24, 1997 | $45,600,000 | 1 | The Big Game |
| Aug. 28, 1993 | $36,540,213 | 1 | Bonus Lotto |
| March 15, 1997 | $34,000,000 | 1 | Michigan Lotto |
| Sept. 17, 1988 | $33,555,966 | 2 | Lotto 6/44 |
Largest Jackpots Awarded to a SINGLE WINNER by the Michigan Lottery
DRAW DATE |
JACKPOT |
# OF WINNERS |
GAME |
| Jan. 24, 1997 | $45,600,000 | 1 | The Big Game |
| Aug. 28, 1993 | $36,540,213 | 1 | Bonus Lotto |
| March 15, 1997 | $34,000,000 | 1 | Michigan Lotto |
| May 16, 1997 | $29,994,387 | 1 | The Big Game |
| Aug. 15, 1990 | $29,071,177 | 1 | Lotto 6/47 |
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